Brussels, 25/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 June, the European Commission set a strict limit of 0.1 mg/l (migration limit) on bisphenol A (BPA) in toys for children up to the age of 3 years and in any toys intended to be placed in the mouth.
The chemical compound BPA is used as a monomer in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics (PC), epoxy resins and other polymeric materials, as well as in paper-based products and has been recognised as having a toxic effect on the reproductive system and causing disruption to the endocrine system. Its use in babies' bottles has been banned since 2011.
The European Commission took this limit from European Standard EN 71-9: 2005+A1: 2007, established by the European Committee for Standardisation and applied voluntarily by the European toy industry to control the content of BPA and guarantee non-dangerous levels of exposure of children to BPA from toys (compliance with standards require compliance with the essential requirements of directive). The migration limit was established by a European Commission directive amending European Directive 2009/48/EC on toy safety (amending Annex II, appendix C). If necessary, this will be updated on the basis of the most recent available scientific data. Scientific assessment of the many risks of BPA to public health is still under way at EFSA. (AN)